Hoodlums Attack Customs officers in Ogun State *Pelts patrol vehicles with bullets *Customs arrest one suspect

Hoodlums Attack Customs officers in Ogun State

*Pelts patrol vehicles with bullets

*Customs arrest one suspect

(By Udeme Clement):

The news reaching us revealed that officers of Ogun 1 Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, were yesterday attacked by hoodlums smuggling within their area of coverage

Financial Business News learnt that the smugglers voilently attacked the officers, who were on official duty, pelting their patrol vehicles with bullets, even as one person was shot at the spot.

The Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the Command, Abdullahi Maiwada disclosed, “At 0230hours of Monday, February 17, 2020, our officers supported by personnel ofNigerian Army on patrol following credible intelligence, identified a hideout used by unscrupulous elements to stockpile smuggled rice and other prohibited items.

“In effort to evacuate the ‘uncustomed goods some daredevil criminals shot sporadically at officers.

” In the process, one patriotic youth, who assisted the team in evacuating the seized items was hit by a stray bullet and immediately rushed to hospital, where he is currently recieving medical attention”.

He continued, “Two official vehicles belonging to the Nigerian Army and Customs were equally pelted with bullets from smugglers”.

Maiwada pointed out, “The team gallantly responded to the aggression and succeeded in evacuating 110 bags of smuggled parboiled rice.”

He revealed, “Also, one suspect was arrested in connection with the attack. He is currently undergoing interrogation”.

He went on, “Similarly, the Customs Area Controller, CAC, Special Taskforce, led by ASC I M Lawal, uncovered new antics used by smugglers in illicit trade.

“The team intercepted large quantity of smuggled rice concealed in a volvo truck, with Chasis number:YB1E6A2A2JB420916 and registration number: FFF–897 ZC (Ogun state).

“The items were falsely declared as Cassava Flour (White Elubo), Fufu and Maize. But further examination revealed 410 bags of smuggled parboiled rice, 50kg bag each deceptively packaged in the seized vehicle”.

With the sad development, the CAC, Comptroller Agbara Michael assured the public that the renewed hostilities by armed smugglers will not deter the Command from discharging its statutory responsibilities.

He emphatically pledged to stop all forms of aggressions used by smugglers in the interest of social and economic prosperity of the nation.

More so, the CAC thanked Comptroller General of Customs, other sister agencies, traditional leaders and some host communities for their unconditional support